Valve spring compressor



Dec. 15, 1953 N. PETERS VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1948 a m M M .Q mm 3 W QN .K p d J Y (m m\ B 1 5% u NQ m Q U Wk j g 23 Dec. 15, .1953

Filed June 11, 1948 N. PETERS VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR B-Sheqts-Sheet 2 Nick Pe lers 'INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 15, 1953 STATES SPRING COMPRESSOR Nick Peters, Frazer, Mont.

Application .iuneIl, 1948, SerialNoJ3'2A24 ZClaims. i

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in repair stands for use in automobile repair shops, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting engine heads, valves, and the like in such a manner that the valves may be cleaned, repaired, or the like in a convenient manner.

Another important object of the present in vention is to provide a combined engine-head support and valve-spring compressor including a spring compressing member and embodying novel and improved means for selectively actuating said spring compressing member to apply a pressure upon a valve spring.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for use in repairing and cleaning the valves of an internal combustion engine of the valvein-head type, the parts of which are quickly and readily adjustable to accommodate valves of various sizes and for valves which are otherwise disposed in difficult to reach positions.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a combined engine-head support and valve spring compressor that is simple practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings fern ing part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the present invention, and with parts thereof broken away for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention illustrating the valve spring engaging means and valve supporting means used in conjunction with the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of Figure 5 taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-6 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is 2, disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral it represents a supporting frame or stand that is retained in an elevated position by a. plurality of legs 12 which are connected by cross'bars l4 and side members it.

Pivotally carried by the side members It is a longitudinal actuating bar E8 to which there is secured a pair of levers 2i] that support a foot pedal or bar 22. One end of the actuating bar [8 projects outwardly from one of the side members 1'6 and engages a pedal arm 24 that is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings or apertures '28 that pivotally engage a lower bifurcated member 28. The lower bifurcated member "28 'adjustably engages the lower end of a'linkBl'l.

Rotatably carried by the supporting frame it are the rounded ends of a lower shaft 32 that is preferably square in cross section, from which there extends a projection ts that pivot-ally engages a pressure equalizing bar 36 to which there is pivoted an upper bifurcated member 38 that adjus'tably engages the upper end of the linl;

A coil spring 40 is anchored at one end to one of the legs 12 and the remaining end of this spring ii] is connected to the pedal arm 24 to normally retain the same in a substantially horizontal position and the bar 36 also in a substantially horizontal position.

A stop 42 carried by the frame it limits the upward pivotal movement of the bar 35 and lilewise the upward pivotal movement of the pedal arm 24 and a further step 43 secured to the frame It limits pivotal movement of the projection 34.

Rising from the frame i0 is an upper frame work M that rotatably supports the rounded end portions of an upper shaft .8 that is preferably square in cross section.

One end of the upper shaft 45 supports a lever 48 to which there .is rigidly secured an arcuate rack bar or ratchet 58] that is slidahly positioned between a pair of spaced links 52 that are pivotally and adjustably carried by the bar 36. A pin 54 carried by the links 52 selectively engages the notches in the ratchet 58 for retaining the upper shaft 46 in an adjusted rotated position.

A coil spring 56 is anchored at one end to the frame ill, and the remaining end of the spring 58 is connected to the lever 48 to retain the latter in a substantially horizontal position.

Slidably carried by the upper shaft 46 is a support member or block 58 that includes a transverse aperture or opening til that slidably engages a pressure arm or lever 92 having a flat surface 6 3 that engages the inner end of a set .3 screw 66 which is adjustably carried by the block 58.

Rigidly attached to and projecting outwardly from the lever 62 is a pair of spaced parallel cars 68 that pivotally support a block having a transverse internally threaded aperture that receivably engages a jaw angle control screw 12.

The outer end of the lever 62 is bifurcated as at 14 to pivotally engage the inner end of a support member 16 having an inclined bearing surface 18 that is formed with a recess 80 for engaging the conical end portion 82 of the screw 12.

Pivotally secured to the support member 18 by a pivot pin 34 are the shank portions 85 of a pair of gripping members or jaws 88 that are adjustably connected by a bolt and wing nut 90 that is embraced by a coil spring 92 for normally urging said jaws 88 spread relative to each other.

A pin 94 connects the shank portions 86 to the member 13 and a coil spring 96 carried by this pin 94 resiliently urges the shank portions 86 toward the support member 78.

Projecting downwardly from the member or block 58 is a pair of spaced ears 93 that pivotally engage the upper end I80 of an arcuate guide frame I02 that slidahly engages a guide it carried by a slide I 06 which slidably engages the lower shaft 32.

An arm or valve holder 108 is adjustably carried by the slide [35 and terminates in an angulated extension I H] having a pointed extremity In practical use of the present invention, a cylinder head is first positioned on the present machine so that the valve support arm will be in line with the valve head. The link to the ratchet is then adjusted so that the spring compressor arm will compress the valve spring for removal of the valve keepers and the compressor jaws are adjusted for the correct width of the valve spring retainer.

Next, the jaw handle is adjusted so that it is parallel with the spring retainer, by screwing the jaw handle control screw in or out.

The operator will then apply a pressure on the foot pedal which will bring the valve holder arm up against the valve and hold it in place so that the compressor arm can compress the spring without pushing the valve downwardly and thus the keepers may be removed.

The valve holder arm and compressor arm unit are then moved to another valve thus permitting the first valve to drop out of the cylinder head, and this operation is continued for each additional valve provided in the cylinder head.

After all of the valves have been removed from the cylinder head, the same can be turned upside-down so that carbon can be removed therefrom, and also to permit a grinding of the valve seats.

When the cylinder head has been cleaned, and the valves ground in the seats, the valves are oiled and placed in the cylinder head. The cylinder head is then turned on its sides so that the valves are in a substantially horizontal position. A conventional hairpin-shaped spring is placed over the valve stem and next to the end of the valve guide to hold the valve in place and the cylinder head is turned back to its original position on the machine.

The control arm unit is then moved in position over a selected one of the valves and the hairpin spring is removed from the valve stem which will let the valve drop down on the valve holder arm.

Next, the valve spring and retainer are placed in position over the valve and valve guide and a pressure applied to the foot pedal which will actuate the valve holder arm against the valve, thus pushing the valve up in its place against the valve seat. Additional pressure on foot pedal moves the valve spring compressor arm down on valve spring retainer and compressor spring so that the keepers can be replaced. When pressure is released from the foot pedal the compressor arm and holder unit may be moved to the next valve that is to be worked. This operation can be repeated for any number of valves and in the manner substantially described above.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herin described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a valve spring compressor, a stand, upper and lower horizontal shafts journaled for rotation on the stand, a support slidable on and rotatable with said upper shaft, valve spring compressing means carried by said support for engaging a valve spring, a valve holder slidably supported on and rotatable with said lower shaft for supporting a valve, a guide frame pivoted to said support for vertical swinging movement, a guide carried by said valve holder receiving said guide frame to permit relative rotation between said support and said valve holder and unitary sliding movement of said support and said valve holder, a forwardly extending lever fixed to one end of said upper shaft for rotating the latter to move said valve spring compressing means downwardly toward said valve holder as said lever is swung downwardly, a forwardly extending equalizing bar underlying said lever, means connecting said equalizing bar to said lower shaft for rotating said lower shaft to move said valve holder upwardly toward the valve spring compressing means as said equalizing bar is moved downwardly, a ratchet fixed to said lever, a link having a lower end pivotally and adjustably secured to said equalizing bar, a pin carried by the upper end of said link removably engaging said ratchet whereby said lever may be swung downwardly simultaneously with downward movement of said equalizing bar to move said valve spring compressing means and said valve holder towards each other, means connected to said lever yieldingly retaining the latter in a substantially horizontal position, and means operatively connected to said equalizing bar yieldingly retaining said equalizing bar in a substantially horizontal position.

2. In a valve spring compressor, a stand, upper and lower horizontal shafts journaled for rotation on the stand, a support slidable on and rotatable with said upper shaft, valve spring compressing means carried by said support for engaging a valve spring, a valve holder slidably supported on and rotatable with said lower shaft for supporting a valve, a guide frame pivoted to said support for vertical swinging movement, a guide carried by said valve holder receiving said guide frame to permit relative rotation between said support and said valve holder and unitary sliding movement of said support and said valve holder, a forwardly extending lever fixed to one end of said upper shaft for rotating the latter to move said valve spring compressing means downwardly toward said valve holder as said lever is swung downwardly, a forwardly extending equalizing bar underlying said lever, means connecting said equalizing bar to said lower shaft for rotating said lower shaft to move said valve holder upwardly toward the valve spring compressing means as said equalizing bar is moved downwardly, a ratchet fixed to said lever, a link having a lower end pivotally and adjustably secured to said equalizing bar, a pin carried by the upper end of said link removably engaging said ratchet whereby said lever may be swung downwardly simultaneously with downward movement of said equalizing bar to move said valve spring compressing means and said valve holder towards each other, means connected to said lever yieldingly retaining the latter in a substantially horizontal position, a foot operated means vertically swingably mounted on said stand, a link connecting said foot operated means to said equalizing bar, and means connected to said foot operated means yieldingly urging said equalizing bar to a substantially horizontal position.

NICK PETERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

